OAKLAND -- If there was consolation to the A's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, it's that Yoenis Cespedes looks primed to put the team on his back offensively for the rest of the series.

Unfortunately, on this night, Cespedes didn't get support from anyone else in the lineup. He was the only A's player who appeared to have any clue against Tigers starter Max Scherzer, although he was bested by closer Joaquin Benoit with a chance to tie the score in the ninth inning.

Cespedes smacked a laser triple over the head of left fielder Andy Dirks in the second inning, then crushed a two-run home run in the seventh to provide the A's their only runs.

It could have been an even more explosive night for Cespedes when he came up with one out in the ninth against Benoit. He just missed connecting on the first pitch, fouling it high into the seats behind third base before swinging through the next two pitches.

Nonetheless, it was an encouraging start for a player the A's weren't sure would be ready to play by Game 1 of the American League Division Series because of an ailing right shoulder. But Cespedes not only was able to hit, he played left field.

"The last month has been one of the best for me all year, and I am still feeling good," Cespedes said through interpreter Ariel Prieto.

Cespedes doesn't think he will have to carry the whole load offensively now that the A's have a game under their belts after four days off.

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"This is not just about me," he said. "It depends on the team. I was good today, but the rest of the team will be good (Saturday)."

Manager Bob Melvin has been careful to bring Cespedes along through the course of the week.

"He looked very good," Melvin said. "The first time up he put a pretty good swing on it. Obviously his home run, he put a pretty good swing on it. His shoulder feels good."

Perhaps not so much defensively, however. Cespedes misplayed Victor Martinez's fly ball in the eighth inning for an error, although it didn't wind up costing Oakland.

"The ball got into the lights," Cespedes said of Martinez's sinking liner that caromed off his glove.

Perhaps more worrisome, Cespedes seemed tentative throwing the ball. He never had to make a strong throw, but on two plays he soft-tossed the ball back to the infield. On his misplay, he deferred to center fielder Coco Crisp to make the throw back to the infield.

Cespedes maintained the shoulder was feeling much better, good enough to make the start in the outfield.

"It's not 100 percent, but I'm ready to play left field," he said.

If Cespedes does become a liability in left field, the A's will settle for his bat. Scherzer had his way with the rest of the A's lineup -- the only other hit against him was Brandon Moss' chopper over the mound preceding Cespedes' homer.

Crisp said it was promising for the A's to see Cespedes swing the bat the way he did.

"He's just a big part of our lineup, and if he continues to swing like this, I think we have a good chance to pull off some needed wins," he said.